The crowd’s strange looks made Jiang Wenzhou feel utterly humiliated, his anger blazing out of control. “Yun Zheng, you’re being unreasonable! Someone like you, reeking of money and vulgarity, could never understand the preciousness of true love.”
But no matter how precious, love could not be built on another’s corpse.
Yun Zheng would not indulge him. Smiling sweetly, she retorted: “Yes, yes, you understand best. ‘One lifetime, one pair of lovers.’ If your love is so great, then why did you propose marriage to our Yun family?”
The answer was obvious: he wanted both wealth and romance, everything at once. Shameless.
“To play the whore while demanding the arch of chastity—you want it all. Do you think you’re the Emperor, owning the world? Look in the mirror. Do you deserve it?”
Jiang Wenzhou nearly fainted from rage.
The Marquis’s vision darkened. He had underestimated her. She was not afraid of death—she wanted to drag the entire Marquis household down with her.
“Yun girl, silence. I will decide this matter.”
Yun Zheng arched her brow. Why waste time tearing at Ye Yizhen? The real problem lay with the Marquis and his son—they were the decision-makers.
So she struck at the root, cutting directly. “Then let the Marquis decide. Justice lies in the hearts of the people. The whole world is watching.”
The Marquis, deeply calculating, knew the priority was to suppress the matter for now and settle accounts later.
“It was the matchmaker’s mistake. Miss Ye is betrothed to my eldest son, Jiang Wenzhou. Miss Yun is betrothed to my second son, Jiang Wenzhou.” With a single sentence, he swapped Ye Yizhen’s identity.
Ye Yizhen trembled, tears glimmering at the corners of her eyes, pitifully gazing at the heir. To marry a dead man? Impossible. No power, no status, just a hollow title—nothing compared to the glory of being the heir’s wife.
Jiang Wenzhou’s heart ached. He wanted nothing more than to be openly wed to his cousin. “Father, absolutely not! I refuse! My cousin is my wife.”
The Marquis shot him a cold glance. Fool. Circumstances outweighed desire. Yet this was the first time in his life a woman had forced him into such a corner—his dignity utterly trampled.
“Men, go correct the marriage contracts filed at the yamen.”
Marriage contracts were always made in triplicate: one for the groom’s family, one for the bride’s, and one kept on record at the magistrate’s office.
“Yes.”
Marquis Pingxi personally erased the younger son’s name from Ye Yizhen’s marriage contract and replaced it with the elder son’s.
Ye Yizhen’s eyes reddened with grievance, her heart full of resentment.
Yun Zheng—this wretched woman—why must she ruin everything? Why couldn’t she obediently accept her fate? Why refuse to be her stepping stone?
She swore that today’s humiliation would be repaid a hundredfold, a thousandfold. Yun Zheng, you are doomed!
Jiang Wenzhou fought desperately against it, but this household was not his to command. He could only watch helplessly as everything was settled, suffocated with frustration. He dared not resent his father, so he poured all his hatred onto Yun Zheng, glaring at her viciously.
Facing this flood of hatred, Yun Zheng merely smiled faintly. Yes, that was it—hate her, resent her, suffer.
When the Marquis finished, he turned to the Vice Minister of Rites. “Lord Qin, do you find this resolution proper?”
Lord Qin cursed inwardly at the old fox’s cunning. Decisive, ruthless—truly the bearing of a warlord. But he had no wish to offend a noble of such rank. Even fallen, the Marquis was still part of the aristocracy. “Proper.”
The Marquis nodded in satisfaction, then raised his voice: “The auspicious hour has arrived. Begin the wedding ceremony.”
He ordered directly: “Wenzhou, lead your wife and your elder sister-in-law inside.”
Once they crossed that threshold, everything would be under his control.
If Yun Zheng dared to publicly disgrace the Marquis household, then he would show no mercy. One dose of medicine, and she would linger sick in bed. After a few years, when the scandal had faded, she would conveniently die of illness. That was the ending he had arranged for her.
She was ruthless, yes—but she had forgotten one thing: the power of words lay in the hands of those above.
This world was not simply black or white. Between people, there was only the exchange of interests. For a merchant’s daughter to challenge the nobility—she must have grown tired of living.
And among all the guests present, who would risk offending the powerful to help a lowly merchant’s girl? No one.
“Yun Zheng, you are now part of the Pingxi household. Every word and deed must first be approved by your elders. Acting on your own—do you even acknowledge your elders?”
The dowry had not yet entered the household, but the entire family was already plotting how to divide it. How could they let the prize slip away?
Yun Zheng looked as though she had heard something unbelievable, her eyes wide with astonishment. “My father may be a mere merchant, but he often said: only when the nation is stable can the people live in peace, and merchants conduct business securely. He always taught me: though lowly in rank, never forget loyalty to the sovereign and love for the country. I have never dared forget it for a moment.”
That single phrase—though lowly in rank, never forget loyalty to the sovereign and love for the country—rang with righteousness, moving countless guests.
With one sentence, Yun Zheng seized the moral high ground, winning hearts while trampling the Marquis household.
“I only find it strange. The Pingxi household is of the nobility. By rights, those who eat the Emperor’s grain should share his worries. Yet your household not only refuses to share his worries, but even blocks others from showing loyalty and patriotism?”
Each word was a poisoned arrow, striking at the Marquis household while gilding the Yun family’s reputation.
This would surely reach the Emperor’s ears. And what would he think? What would he do? For the sake of propriety, for the sake of setting an example to the people, he would certainly commend the one who donated her dowry.
In other words, Yun Zheng had used half her dowry to win favor before the throne. Do not underestimate this move—it was enough to make the Marquis household hesitate, unable to act rashly.
The Marquis stared fixedly at Yun Zheng, as though seeing her for the first time. His gaze was complicated beyond words. Strange. He had heard the Yun family’s daughter was gentle, naïve, and easy to manipulate. But looking at her actions and hearing her words—where was the naïveté? Her methods were seasoned, her mind deep.
“You misunderstand. Wenzhou was merely reminding you—when matters arise, consult the elders first. That is the rule.” The Marquis had already devised a countermeasure. Since it could not be avoided, he would adjust his stance, turning misfortune into fortune.
“I support this decision. Our Pingxi household has always been loyal and patriotic; Heaven and Earth can bear witness. Yun girl, you are so sensible and mindful of the greater good—I am gratified. Truly worthy of being one of our Jiang family.”
The officials, regardless of their true thoughts, all voiced praise, lauding the Marquis household’s righteousness.
Though the Marquis’s heart bled at the loss, he consoled himself: if this won the Emperor’s favor and earned acclaim across the court, it was worth it.
As for Yun Zheng—she was now part of the Marquis household. Her possessions were naturally theirs. Her donation was the household’s donation. Any imperial reward would be bestowed upon the Marquis household.
The Yun girl was still too young. In the end, everything she did would only serve as a wedding robe for the Marquis household.
Lord Ji, the Vice Minister of Revenue, was delighted. With money flowing into the treasury, everyone’s lives would improve.
“Excellent. In three days I will bring men to collect it. Marquis, please have your household prepared. You may await His Majesty’s decree.”
This was a clear hint of imperial commendation, and Marquis Pingxi’s heart swelled with joy. But he did not notice Yun Zheng’s lips curve into a meaningful smile. How could she possibly let them profit so easily?
“Wait. Lord Ji, I must trouble you to deliver another message to His Majesty on my behalf…” She had another move prepared—one that would make the Marquis household regret bitterly. This was the first step of her revenge.